The perfect place to
find fresh food is at your local farmers market. From farm to table, the
produce is one of the healthiest ways to get all your nutrients.
“Summer is the
perfect time to give canned and frozen produce a break – to give our bodies and
minds a healthy boost with some fresh fruits and veggies,” says Diane Hinrichs
Kelbel, RD, CD, registered dietician at Aspirus. “As a bonus, buying them at a
farmers market is a fantastic opportunity to support our local farmers.”
Aspirus has launched
another year of their Fruit and Vegetable Prescription (FVRx) Program which
helps provide patients with access to fresh produce. Patients are identified by
the Patient-Centered Medical Home team and Health Resource Team as having a need,
whether it be food insecurity, low-income, chronic conditions, or lack of
access. Eligible patients are given a “prescription” to use at one of many
participating farmers markets in the Aspirus service area.
“We know that a diet
that’s rich in fruits and veggies is healthy for us, but not everyone has the
same access to these items,” adds Hinrichs Kelbel. “This program is designed to
get more nutritious foods in the hands of more families in our communities.”
Oftentimes farmers
market vendors provide free tastes of things like raspberries, local jellies,
and fruit. The aromas of fresh vegetables and fruits are so wonderful that it
makes you want to start planting. You are bound to taste or see something that triggers
a smile.
Here are some tips
for getting the most from your trip to the farmers market:
- Go early. You
may not need to be among the first arrivals for a weekday market, but weekend
markets get busy fast. If you arrive too late, the best pickings may be gone.
- Bring cash and
reusable bags. Transactions will go easier if you have a pocket of small
bills. Plus, you need sturdy bags to carry your items home.
- Talk to the
vendors. The sellers want to talk about their fruits, veggies, and jams.
Ask for buying and storing tips. They can often give you recipe ideas too.
The Aspirus Farmers
Market will return to Aspirus Wausau Hospital each Thursday beginning June 16
through September 29. Stop down on June 16 from 11am-1pm to see Chef Travis
from Northcentral Technical College as he shares some tips & tricks and
prepares a fresh snack to share using farmers market produce.
For more information
on the FXRx program or to see if you qualify, visit https://www.aspirus.org/fvrx-program.